A Nahal Brigade combat team destroyed the tunnel on Sunday from which Lieutenant Hadar Goldin was abducted, just hours after his coffin was returned to Israel and IDF representatives informed his family that the identification process was complete.
Goldin fell in combat and was killed and abducted in 2014 during Operation Protective Edge. He was laid to rest Tuesday at the military cemetery in Kfar Saba, accompanied by tens of thousands and Israeli flags. His father Simcha recited Kaddish for his son, and the IDF Chief of Staff, who helped cover the grave, eulogized Hadar. His mother Leah read powerful sentences Hadar had written to his trainees and said, "Every word fits today. The strongest in the world, thank you." His sister Ayelet eulogized him through tears, "This entire journey and these two years are the strength of a determined and proud nation."
Video: The destruction of the tunnel on Sunday / Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
Hadar was born in February 1991 in a mixed religious-secular settlement. Hadar entered the world as the younger brother to Ayelet, the firstborn, and to Chemi. Hadar, the older twin, waited outside the womb for five full minutes until his twin brother Tzur was born. Together they captured the hearts of their kindergarten teachers and educators, together they learned to play instruments, draw, and sculpt, together they joined Bnei Akiva and became counselors after being trainees, together they attended pre-military academy at Bnei David Eli.
Outstanding officer in Givati
Hadar enlisted in Givati and was accepted to the reconnaissance unit's basic training. He excelled throughout and reached his goal – team commander in reconnaissance. He also got engaged to his fiancée Edna, and the two set a wedding date.
In June 2014, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge against Hamas in Gaza. Hadar went to battle and never came back. He was killed and abducted during a ceasefire, in an operation designed to locate tunnels meant to destroy southern communities.
Declared fallen, his body remained in Gaza
On August 1, 2014, in battle against terrorists who emerged from a tunnel, the company commander Major Benaya Sarel, the-Second Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, and Staff Sergeant Liel Gidoni fell. Hadar was abducted into a nearby tunnel by terrorists. The chief military rabbi declared Goldin fallen. Hadar's grave was designated at the cemetery in Kfar Saba, but his body remained held in Gaza.
